Merchandising machine and apparatus



Nov. 30, 1937. P. P. scHl-:URER

MERCHANDISING MACHIN AND APPARATUS Filed Jan.- 2, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l ll jl'ceurel INVENTOR AT1-0;? N E Y NOV 3G E937. P. P. scHEURs-:R

MERCHANDISING MACHINE AND APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F'iled Jan. 2, 1954 l .JWN

NOV- 30, 1937. P. P. SCHEURER MERCHANDISING MACHINE AND APPARATUS 3^Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 2, 1934 Patented Nov. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE MERCHANDISING MACHINE AND APPARATUS Application January 2, 1934, Serial No. 704,950

1 Claim.

This invention relates to merchandise machines and apparatus and it has particular reference to coin or token4 operated vending machines intended primarily for vending mer- 5 chandise in the nature of foodstuffs of various kinds.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a vending machine designed for association with display windows of mercantile establishments and other plac-es of business, serving to provide the purchasing public with a medium through which purchases may be made, either in emergencies or otherwise, particularly after closing hours.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism operative by the aid of gravity, having first: an escapement mechanism, operated partially by the article of merchandise being vended, to insure against delivery of more than a single item at one operation, second, mechanism for locking the escapement mechanism against operation in the absence of a coin or token being depcsid, third, mechanism to prevent the operation of more than one dispensing 2S unit at a time where the units of the invention are in series, mechanism to insure the completion of a cycle of operation of each unit and mechanism to lock the actuating mechanism of the machine when the merchandise has been eX- Bc hausted.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has particular reference to its salient features of construction and arrangement of parts which will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is an elevation in vertical section on lines I-I on Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a plan view of an assembly of dispensing units constructed according to the present invention. y

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the escapement mechanism in control of the merchandise, one of which is employed in each of the units.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View in perspective of an indicator and locking arm for disclosing whether or not the unit contains merchandise.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the means for collectively locking the dispensing units against operation subject to the insertion of a coin into the machine and further shows the cycle ratchet.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail view of the locking switch which prevents operation of but a single unit at one time.

Figure '7 is a perspective view cfa storage receptacle, one of which has operative connection with each of the units of the dispensing assembly, and

Figure 8 is a detail elevational View of a conventional type of coin operated chute employed in connection with the present invention.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawings, it may be first mentioned that the dispensing units of the invention are assembled in the relation shown in Figure 2 and that 10 any number of such assemblies may be arranged side by side as desired to ll a predetermined space, such as that space usually provided for below the plate-glass of display windows in mercantile establishments. In Figures 1 and 2, I 15 designates a front plate of such length as to embrace an assembly of dispensing units and constructed t0 dei-lne a receptacle 2, into which the merchandise from one or more of the dispensing units is discharged and in which the merchandise is accessible to the purchaser. An inclined floor 3 provides a passageway for Vthe merchandise from its point of release to the receptacle 2 and during its travel along this passageway by gravity, it is required to raise a closure which is pivoted at 5 and returned to closed position by gravity. This closure prevents unauthorized tampering with the concealed mechanism of the machine, since it is suspended for movement in one direction only.

The invention is designed to vend the character of merchandise which may be packed and sold in cylindrical receptacles or containers. This merchandise may include canned goods of all descriptions packed in cylindrical tins, as 3- well as cereals and the like and where the merchandise is not furnished by the producer in cylindrical packages, a temporary covering of cylindrical design may be adopted so that the range of merchandise capable of being vended by the invention will not be limited.

Mounted for rotation on a shaft 6 in transverse relation to the chute or passage 3 is a merchandise retaining and releasing Wheel "l,- one of which is arranged at the inlet end of each of the passages 3. These Wheels are in control of the articles of merchandise fed into the units from the storage receptacles shown in Figure '7, it being understood that the lower end of each of these receptaclesis in communication with the `5U inlet end of each of the passages 3 of the units.

A description of this storage receptacle will be entered into presently.

Mounted on a shaft S and depending between the side Walls 9 ofthe assemblies are a series of l 55 links I0. These links support a shaft or rod II in parallel relationship with the shaft or rod 8. This arrangement is shown in detail in Figure 5. As will become apparent presently, the shaft 8 serves as a fulcrum for the depending links I0 and barrel shaft I I when the machine is unlocked as by a coin, to enable the retaining and releasing wheel I to be actuated to release an article of merchandise from the storage receptacle, Normally however, the rod I I is rigid and cannot be moved by reason of a depending arm I2, integral with the intermediate link shown in Figure 5 and which arm has anl angularly turned lower end I3, having a pin I4 at its extremity which normally abuts a shoulder l5 of a pivoted arm I6 shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. More specic reference will be made to the mechanism last mentioned in the description of operation to follow presently, since this mechanism is associated with conventional coin actuated devices as will be presently seen.

The escapement mechanism or the devices for controlling the retaining and releasing wheel 1 is comprised of an arcuately curved arm II, shown in Figure 1 and in detail in Figure 3. To this arm is rigidly attached or made an integral part of the same, an anchor I8, having a projection I9, serving to limit the degree of rotation of the wheel 1. This anchor permits movement of the wheel 'I only to such extent as to release a single article of merchandise for movement to a point of accessibility in the receptacle 2, the next succeeding blade 20 of the wheel serving to intercept the passage of a succeeding article of merchandise to a point of discharge. The arcuate arm I'I and hence the anchor I8 pivots on a transverse shaft 2l and to the lower end of the arm I'I is connected the pull rod 22, the operative end of which rod extends through the front plate I and carries a knob 23. This rod 22 is the sole operating medium for the unit selected after the insertion of a coin.

Referring now particularly to the mechanism provided for preventing the operation of but a single unit at a time, it will be noted that a series of independently mounted plates 24 are arranged on a shaft 25 immediately. below and in transverse relation to the operating rod 22. A detail View of this arrangement is shown in Figure 6. These members 24 are constrained against other than horizontal sliding movement but, as stated, they are independently movable with respect to one another. Reference to Figures 1 and 6 will disclose that each of the operating rods 22 is provided with a rigid pin 26, the latter being in such position thereon as to aline with the point of contact between the members 24. When one of the rods 22 is pulled outwardly, the pin 26 carried thereby is moved between the contiguous members 24, it being pointed out that the members have deflected corners 211. Since the relative spacing of the members 24 is such as to admit only one of the pins 26 therebetween, only a single rod 22 can be pulled outwardly, the remaining members 24 resisting any eort to actuate any of the companion rods. A shaft 28 serves as a stop to prevent undesired displacement of the members 24 by virtue of the fact that a depending portion 29 of each of the members 24 slidingly engages this shaft.

As a means to notify a prospective purchaser of goods from the machine that the merchandise therein has been depleted, an arm 30 is mounted for pivotal movement on the shaft 8, as apparent in Figures 1 and 4 and has a tail portion 3| arranged to normally rest upon the articles of merchandise entering the inlet end of the passage 3 of each of the units and thereby held in raised position. The opposite or forward end of the arm 30 carries a plate 32 bearing the words full and empty or similar indicia, one of which words is Visible at all times through an opening 33 in the front plate I of the assembly. When the machine contains merchandise, the tail portion 3l of the arm 30 is maintained in a raised position to disclose the word full through the opening 33. When the last article of merchandise passes the tail portion 3| of the arm into the passage 3, the weight of the tail portion will cause the same to move downwardly, slightly raising the plate 32, to thereby reveal the word empty in the opening 33. At the same time, a nger 34, integral with the bearing 35 on which the arm 30 operates, rotates a detent 36, one of which is provided for each of the units of the assembly and all of which are mounted upon a transverse shaft 3'I. A detent 36 has an integral projection a., against which the finger 34 engages, a stop b, which rests upon the shelf 38 to limit its degree of movement and a third projection c which lies in the path of the arcuate arm II only when the machine is emptied of merchandise. The detent will therefore prevent movement of the arcuate arm I'I and will therefore prevent the operating rod 22 from being pulled outwardly.

However, when the store of merchandise is replenished in the machine, the tail portion 3| of the arm 30 will be raised, which operation will actuate the depending finger 34 to rock the detent 36 to the dotted position shown in Figure l. The interfering projection c of the detent Will thereby be displaced to again allow the operating rod 22 to be pulled outwardly.

As a means to insure a complete cycle of movement of the elements when the operating rod 22 is actuated, a cycle ratchet is provided and shown only in Figure 5. This cycle ratchet is comprised of a detent 39, mounted for rotation on the shaft 3l and held normally in one position by a spring 4I. A projection 42 carried by the detent is engageable with serrations or teeth 43 in'an integral extension 44 of one of the depending links I0. It is apparent that as the lower end of the link I0 swings in an arcuate path, due to its pivotal suspension from the shaft 8, the projection 42 of the detent 39 will progressively engage the teeth 43 of the depending portion 44 until the full range of movement has been completed in one direction. This operation is repeated during movement in the opposite direction. Accordingly, at no time can the operating rod 22 be moved in and out without restraint when an effort is made to effect partial movement of the rod.

Referring now specifically to the storage receptacle shown in Figure l in detail, it will be noted that this receptacle is constructed of telescoped sections 45, the lowermost section 46 being angularly shaped so that the articles of merchandise contained therein may be properly directed into the passage 3 of each of the units of the invention. A recess 41 in the lower section 46 of the receptacle accommodates the tail portion 3l of the arm 30 previously described. It will be noted that a space 48 is provided in the rear of the storage receptacle in order to render visible the merchandise therein so that an attendant may determine when the same is to be replenished.

The peculiar shape of the storagereceptacle i as shown in Figure 7, renders the same effective when the invention is to be arranged in the space below the display windows of a store or the like. The upright sections 45 of the receptacle are disposed rearwardly of the display space of the Window and therefore will interfere in no way with the view of the merchandise displayed by the merchant in the show window. The tubular portion of the lowermost section 46 is disposed beneath the iioor of the show window, hence the merchandise may be delivered into the dispensing unit shown in Figures 1 and 2 at a point of convenience and accessibility immediately below the show window.

When a coin is deposited in the slot 49 in the front plate I and shown only in Figure 2, it passes through the conventional coin chute 50. Since this particular device is of conventional design and well known in the art, it is not considered necessary to enter into a detailed description of its construction and operation. It is considered sufficient to mention that the high degree of efiiciency of this unit is such that spurious coins and slugs are ejected in such percentage as to render losses negligible. After passing through this unit, the coin 5I, shown only in dotted lines in Figure l lodges between the pin I4 carried on the lower end of the arm I2 and a pin 52 carried by the arm I6. The arm I6 is pivotecl at 53 and is spring actuated. The coin 5I therefore functions as an operating medium, since it will be remembered that without the presence of a coin, the pin lll will engage the shoulder I 5 of the arm I6 to prevent movement of the depending arm I2. Due to the presence of the coin however between the pins I 4 and 52, the arm IB is moved down- Wardly as the operating rod 22 of the machine is pulled outwardly, due to the wedging action of the coin between the stationary plate 54 and the pin 52 of the arm I6. Continuous movement of the rod 22 will cause the depending arm I2 to advance and discharge the coin 5I into a suitable receptacle below the machine, not shown.

The foregoing operation unlocks the arm I2 and as a result, the rod I! is capable of free swinging movement and as the arcuate arm II is displaced by outward movement of the operating rod 22, the projection I9 carried by the anchor I8 is raised to release the blade 2|] of the wheel 1. This same operation however lowers the forward end of the anchor I8 in the path of the next blade of the wheel 1 to prevent rotation of the wheel 'I beyond a predetermined point. When the operating arm 22 is returned to normal position, the projection i9 of the anchor I8 assumes its position in the path of the next succeeding blade ZI) of the wheel 1. The merchandise is thus released to pass into the receptacle 2 at the front of the machine while the next succeeding article of merchandise is intercepted by the wheel 'I.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification as is considered within the scope and meaning of the appended claim is also considered within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

In a merchandising machine, the combination f comprising a housing having inclined passages normally closed against entry through their discharge ends and merchandise magazines from which articles of merchandise are gravitationally fed into said passages, a shaft mounted above the inlet ends of said passages, a series of peripherally recessed wheels rotatably mounted on said shaft and extending into the path of movement of said articles to singly admit them into said passages, a discharge receptacle common to each of said passages, an escapement means provided to control each of said wheels, each of said escapement means comprising an actuating plunger and an arcuately shaped arm pivotally connected to said plunger at one end and at its other end to a shaft disposed above and parallel to said first shaft, an anchor member rigidly aixed to said arcuate arm having on its forward edge a downwardly extending projection and on its rear edge a depending lip, whereby said projection will engage a recess of said wheel in the inner position of said plunger to prevent rotation thereof and be released from said recess with the simultaneous positioning of said lip into the path of said recess in the outward position of said plunger.

PAUL P. SCHEURER. 

